CR7 in the spotlight, armchair critics, fear, shielding, the beach, and… Real Madrid: Everything Rúben Dias said

— Are you fully recovered from the physical issue that kept you from facing Congo?

— I'm feeling very good and I'm ready.

— After the match, most of the criticism was directed at Cristiano, not the team. How did the group feel about that?

— Well, first of all, the criticism isn't aimed at just one player. Obviously, Cris is a major focal point, but we're all in this together at a time like this. Above all, nothing out of the ordinary is happening. It's been this way every time I've been here, and I believe it will continue to be in the future. So, nothing new.

— There are two very prevalent narratives right now, often coming from former players. One narrative criticizes Cristiano; the other criticizes the team around him. Is there a third way?

— Honestly, from what I've seen from the players, I haven't seen much. But from what I have seen, I haven't seen anything you're describing. Obviously, there's a lot of speculation, and when the results aren't the most positive, it's normal for that speculation to triple. But that doesn't diminish our confidence or our understanding of what we know we can achieve. This type of competition is never meant to be perfect, and the more difficulties, the better. It's a competition that can only be won if the team has the ability to grow game after game. As such, I don't expect perfect scenarios where people are showering us with praise. The most important thing is to stay grounded.

— It seems there are two factions: those with Cristiano and those with the rest of the team, implying the two sides aren't united. How were these criticisms and this extremism received after the game against Congo?

— Honestly, all the speculation around that topic is completely irrelevant to me because, for me and for all of us, it's not even an issue. We are all united in pursuit of a dream, and we understand that difficulties exist, and it's in those moments that we'll see what we're truly made of. As such, we embrace it as an opportunity to create something positive. My mind doesn't go there; I don't pay attention when it appears — and it obviously appears to us through social media or news. I sincerely believe none of us care, so it shouldn't even be a topic I need to discuss.

— You watched the game against Congo from the bench and spoke with your teammates several times during breaks. What needs to be corrected for the next game?

— There are so many armchair critics analyzing the game and coming to perfect conclusions about what went wrong and right, that I think people have already realized what didn't go so well. We started the game very strongly, scored, and felt a positive energy. From that moment on, we ended up relaxing and losing discipline in our positioning, which made us less effective. We stopped instilling the fear we need to, and the game entered a strange dynamic. We have exceptional players who make a difference with very little space and time, so it's essential that they are in the right positions to cause damage. At some point, perhaps because it was the first game, due to the emotion, and scoring so early, we lost a bit of that discipline. We are aware of this, and I only see positive things from here on out.

— How does the locker room shield itself from so much public criticism? Criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo, criticism of those who don't pass him the ball, and the performance against Congo...

— I thought you were going to ask me about the beach [laughs]. As I said before, it's not an issue for us. It's insignificant, it's noise. It's part of the competition, part of playing in this situation and being surrounded by the players we are with, but it's still just noise. It's not important to us.

— The coach said, at the end of the first match against Congo, that self-criticism was necessary. I ask you if the group has already engaged in that self-criticism to improve in the second game?

— Yes. It aligns with what I just said regarding our awareness of what happened in the game and what made us less dangerous. That's the conclusion of that reflection.

— Let me take you back in time a bit. One of your youth coaches at Estrela da Amadora once said about young Rúben Dias: "He's never just watching the game, he didn't pay for a ticket to watch the game; he's there to organize, to help, to get stuck in." Given this idea, how was it for you to be on the bench in this first game, what did you feel, and what did you see yourself doing?

— I ended up making the decision that had to be made at the time. I confess that, at the moment, it was quite difficult for me, but it was the right decision, I have no doubt. It was tough because, obviously, I always want to help my team and our country as much as possible to succeed on this special occasion. It wasn't easy, but I hope to be able to help as much as I can from now on.

— Did you speak with Tomás Araújo and Renato Veiga before the game? What message did you convey to them, since they were the two chosen to play at center-back?

— As a result of being in training camp and sharing a common goal, communication happens naturally, not just because they were going to play, but from the beginning of the camp. We have a relationship where the four defenders have the mission to transmit maximum confidence to everyone in front of us. I wouldn't focus on anything specific I said before the game, other than for them to be themselves and not be shy about doing and saying everything they had to say. Even if they had to say a harsher word to a teammate who already has status and many years with the national team, that they shouldn't be ashamed to do so...

— I'd like to ask you about the team's start to the game. We had a very good start, 15 minutes of high intensity and attacking football, we scored, and then we ended up taking our foot off the gas, dropping deeper and losing intensity. Why does this happen? Are these orders from the coaching staff, or do you consciously try to conserve physical energy?

— I've already answered that previously. It mainly has to do with positioning, which is a small detail that makes all the difference. Being the first game of the competition, we scored early in a game we knew was going to be very difficult. Perhaps this created a feeling of over-controlling possession, without being as effective as we aim to be. There are things in the game that happen and are difficult to explain at the time, and the moment of each play causes reactions that are not always easy to control. We lost the moment to create danger and make them feel threatened, so the game entered a strange atmosphere.

— Let me pick up on the beach issue. By my calculations, in 96 hours, the national team players spent about 3 hours publicly on the beach. Why do you think there was so much criticism surrounding this topic which, given these numbers, shouldn't be a real issue, but took on such a dimension?

— It should never have been an issue, and a large part of the blame lies with you, due to a lack of information for the people who read and see what you share. It's your duty to inform people correctly and not simply create an appealing text for clicks, causing a dynamic of bad energy that doesn't exist. What we did is perfectly normal; in fact, I think it's beneficial. Done the right way and at the right times, there are only benefits to be gained. I take my hat off to the coach, who wasn't afraid to do it even knowing you would react this way...

— What feelings did you have from the sidelines, being such a vocal leader on the field and a very active player?

— If there's one thing we didn't lack, it was passion. It was simply a matter of respecting positions. Other than that, it wasn't easy to be on the sidelines. It's always my greatest pleasure to be out there helping, but I completely trust my teammates and I know that everyone has the ability to contribute to everyone's performance on the field.

— You mentioned earlier that when adversity comes early, it's good to realize we're in a World Cup, but in such a short competition, there's very little room for error. Are the players aware that there's no more room for mistakes in this group stage?

— Yes.

— The Portuguese national team previously played against Mexico, who qualified for this World Cup. We'd like to know your opinion on the level this team presents and if you would rank them in this competition.

— In any ranking? Well, they are a dangerous team with a lot of quality, but I'm not focused on that now because we have our own games ahead.

— What chances do you have of following in your teammate Bernardo Silva's footsteps at Real Madrid?

— Portugal.

— Despite all the criticism and the surrounding atmosphere, many believe you are contenders to win this title. After seeing all the teams in the first game, do you still feel like contenders to win the World Cup?

— That's a feeling we have, but we'll see later if that's a reality. We know the quality and capability we have within our squad, but we have to translate that into performance on the field and reach a point where we feel we are using our maximum potential. We have work to do and much to improve to reach that point. Do I feel we can get there? Without a doubt.

— Were you surprised by the performance and result of the game against Congo, and what should Portugal improve to definitively be a contender?

— Our analysis of the game shows that we need to respect our positions, because the moment we do that, we will be very dangerous. The path is to grow with each game and continue to improve.

— The first questions were very focused on Cristiano Ronaldo, which is natural given he's a player of immense stature. Do you think it's positive that the focus shifts so much to one player, taking the pressure off others, or do you think it's bad because it brings negative repercussions and an atmosphere of greater pressure in a competition that is already exciting in itself?

— I don't think it's either positive or negative. Each of us, including Cristiano, is accustomed to dealing with media pressure from the club, the national team, in World Cup and European contexts. So, nothing new is happening. Even in a slightly more frustrating moment, we are all in comfort zones regarding how to deal with the situation. I only see this as a good opportunity. I've never seen a difficult moment as a wall we can't overcome, but rather as a stone we can step on to stand taller. Therefore, it's simply an opportunity for us to become better and stronger.

— Do you feel this is the most qualified national team to take Portugal to a World Cup final?

— I'll answer the same way I answered your colleague. I think it's an answer that will be given as the competition progresses. There's no point in believing something if you don't feel it on the field. The true feeling of belief comes from overcoming the small difficulties that arise. We are aware of who we are and all the players we have, but we need to find the best way for everyone to function efficiently to reach the performance level where we feel: "Come on, because it's going to be tough for you," that has to be the motto. It's not just about what we believe; what interests me is improving with each game and each training session, building that feeling within us. The moment we achieve that, we can raise our confidence high and push through anything.